Malik Sealy (February 1, 1970 – May 20, 2000) was an American professionalbasketball player, active from 1992 until his death in anautomobile accident at the age of 30. Sealy played eight seasons in theNational Basketball Association (NBA) for theIndiana Pacers,Los Angeles Clippers,Detroit Pistons andMinnesota Timberwolves.^[1]

Malik Sealy

Sealy while playing forSt. John's
Personal information
Born	(1970-02-01)February 1, 1970 Bronx, New York, U.S.
Died	May 20, 2000(2000-05-20) (aged 30) St. Louis Park, Minnesota, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school	Tolentine (Bronx, New York)
College	St. John's (1988–1992)
NBA draft	1992: 1st round, 14th overall pick
Drafted by	Indiana Pacers
Playing career	1992–2000
Position	Small forward /shooting guard
Number	21, 14, 2
Career history
1992–1994	Indiana Pacers
1994–1997	Los Angeles Clippers
1997–1998	Detroit Pistons
1998–2000	Minnesota Timberwolves
Career highlights and awards
No. 2retired by Minnesota Timberwolves Consensus second-teamAll-American (1992) 2× First-teamAll-Big East (1991, 1992) 2×Haggerty Award winner (1991, 1992) McDonald's All-American (1988) First-teamParade All-American (1988)
Career NBA statistics
Points	4,955 (10.1 ppg)
Rebounds	1,585 (3.2 rpg)
Steals	518 (1.1 spg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats atBasketball Reference

A native ofthe Bronx,New York, Sealy was named after notedAfrican-Americansocial activistMalik Shabazz, better known as Malcolm X, for whom Sealy's father had been abodyguard.^[2] In his senior year atTolentine High School, Sealy, along with future collegiansBrian Reese andAdrian Autry, went 30–1 and won the state title.^{[citation needed]}

Sealy playedcollege basketball atSt. John's University, finishing his college career with 2,401 points, good for second all-time in St. John's history.

Sealy was drafted by theIndiana Pacers with the 14th overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft.

Over the course of his NBA career, Sealy averaged 10.1 points per game in 23.8 minutes. As a rookie, he lost his playbook, which was turned over to WFAN radio personalityDon Imus, whom Sealy contacted on the air in an attempt to have it returned.^[3] His final season's highlights included making a game-winning reverse putback shot at the buzzer against theOrlando Magic on December 27, 1999, which gave the Timberwolves a 107–105 road win. He also made a game-winning 3-pointer off the glass as time expired in a 101–100 Timberwolves win over theIndiana Pacers on January 17, 2000.

Sealy was also an aspiring actor, and had a major role as the talented but selfish basketball player 'Stacey Patton' in the1996 motion pictureEddie starringWhoopi Goldberg. He also made appearances on TV shows such asThe Sentinel andDiagnosis: Murder.^[4] In addition to this, Sealy designed ties and clothing and owned "Malik Sealy XXI, Inc."^[4]

Sealy was killed inSt. Louis Park, Minnesota on May 20, 2000.^[4] He was driving home from a birthday celebration for teammate and best friendKevin Garnett in downtownMinneapolis when hissport utility vehicle was struck by apickup truck traveling the wrong way down the highway.^[4] The truck was driven by 43-year-old Souksangouane Phengsene, who survived the accident with head and chest injuries. Neither driver was wearing a seatbelt. Phengsene'sairbag deployed, but Sealy's SUV did not have one.^[4]

Blood tests indicated that at the time of the accident, Phengsene had been driving drunk; hisblood alcohol content was 0.19%. The legal limit in Minnesota at the time was 0.1%. He pleaded guilty to a charge ofvehicular manslaughter, was given a four-year prison term, and was released from prison in 2003.^[5] In April 2008, Phengsene was given an eight-year sentence for a subsequent drunk driving conviction.^[6]

Sealy is buried atFerncliff Cemetery inHartsdale, New York.^[7]

In Sealy's honor, theMinnesota Timberwolves retired his #2 jersey.^[8]Kevin Garnett also paid a tribute to him, having written "2MALIK" in the inside of the tongue on theAdidas Garnett 3 shoes. Garnett has a tattoo honoring Sealy's name on his right arm.^[9] Upon being traded from the Boston Celtics to the Brooklyn Nets in July 2013, Garnett changed his uniform number to #2 in honor of Sealy.^[10] In his homecoming to Minnesota on February 25, 2015, Kevin Garnett wore a #2 sweatband on his left forearm in memory of his best friend.

• List of basketball players who died during their careers

• Career statistics fromNBA.com and Basketball Reference
• Malik Sealy atIMDb